Compare towns
South Eliot vs Kennebunkport vs Harpswell vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Eliot has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Kennebunkport has the most people working from home (31.6%).
Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | South Eliot | Kennebunkport | Harpswell | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,203 |
3,684Lowest |
5,046 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±8 43% above U.S. |
59.1±5 52% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.9%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harpswell and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Portsmouth and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$102,747±$30k 27% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$740,500±$109kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60k 83% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
| Kennebunkport and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,429±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442 42% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.8%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.6%±9.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunkport and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #42 of 133 in ME | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 21 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.